Foot-guard for frogs or the like



(No Model.)

6 P. F. ROBERTS.

FOOT GUARD FOR. FROGS OR THE LIKE.

N0. 566,096. 6 Patented Aug. 18, 1896.

WITNESSES: INVENTOI? uonms PEYERS co. PHOT0-LITHO" wAsmNo'ron. n. c.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FRANCIS FREDERICK ROBERTS, OF DENVER, COLORADO.

FOOT-GUARD FOR FROGS OR THE LIKE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 566,096, dated August 18, 1896.

' Application filed December 4,1895. Serial-No. 571,002. (No model.)

To all whont it may concern:

Be it known that I, FRANCIS FREDERICK ROBERTS, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Denver, in the county of Arapahoe and State of Colorado, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Foot-Guards for Switch-Frogs, of which the following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanyin g drawings,forming a part thereof, in which similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts.

This invention relates to what are known as the frogs of railway-switches, and the object thereof is to provide a guard which is adapted to prevent the serious and sometimes fatal accidents which frequently result by reason of the foot becoming fastened therein.

The invention is fully disclosed in the following specification, of which the accompanying drawings form a part, in which- Figure 1 is a plan view of one form of my improvement, showing also the application thereof; Fig. 2, a section on the line 3 3 of Fig. 1; Fig. 3, a longitudinal section on the line 2 2. Fig. a is a plan view of a modified form of construction, and Fig. 5 a section onthe line 5 5 thereof.

In the drawings forming part of this appli cation, A and B represent the adjacent rails of a railway-switch, which converge to a point between which is formed a narrow triangular space O, which is called the frog, and in the practice of my invention I place within this space a plate D, which is of the general form thereof, and which is supported by a longitudinal plate-spring E, which is'secured to or is secured in the plate D, and secured to said pin or bolt, or to the lower end thereof, and below the plate-spring E, is a spiral spring L, the opposite ends of which are secured to the opposite sides of the platespring E, which is wide enough to extend entirely across the space between the rails A and B. As thus constructed, it will be seen that the plate D, which may be composed of wood or any desired material, is supported at about a level with the tops of the rails A and B, and said plate, by reason of the slots in the plate-spring E and the springs L, secured to the pins K, is capable of slight lateral movement, the object of this being to provide means whereby, when the rims of the car-wheels are passing, the plate D will yield,

so as to provide a space therefor between said plate and the rails A and B. This device is perfectly adapted to accomplish the object for which it is intended, and the accidents hereinbefore referred to will be rendered impossible thereby.

In Figs. 4 and 5 I have shown a modified form of construction in which the plate D of theguard is stamped'from a piece of sheet metal, and is supported by a longitudinal spring F, as hereinbefore described, the central portion of which is secured to the central portion of the plate D, and in this form of construction the plate D and the spring F will yield to provide a space for the rims of the car-wheels, and, as will be observed, the plate D is provided with longitudinal flanges at each side which extend beneath the heads of the rails A and B, and which serve to prevent the displacement of the guard and to retain the same in the proper position. It will be understood that the spring F in this form of construction may be bolted or otherwise secured to cross-ties, and it will be observed that the plate-spring F in the construction shown in Figs. 1, 2, and 3 also extends on each side beneath the overhanging heads of the rails A and B.

My invention is not limited to the exact form, construction, and arrangement of the various parts herein shown and described, and I therefore reserve the right to make all such alterations therein and modifications thereof as fairly come within the scope of the invention.

Having fully described my invention, its construction and operation, I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent 1. A foot-guard, for the frogs of railways which comprises a plate which is supported therein at approximately a level with the tops of the rails, said plate being supported by springs and capable of lateral movement, of which are secured to the sides of said platesubstantially as shown and described. spring, substantially as shown and described. 2. A foot-guard for the frogs of railways In testimony that I claim'the foregoing as comprising a plate adapted to be secured my invention Ihave signed my name, in pres- 5 therein, said plate being of the same form as ence of the subscribing witnesses, this 23d 15 the space in the frogs, and being supported on day of November, 1895. aspring-plate,inwhich areformed transverse FRANCIS FREDERICK ROBERTS. slots, through which project pins or bolts sel/Vitnessesz cured to said plate, and t0 the lower ends of JOSEPH N. STEPHENS,

10 which are secured springs, the opposite ends RUDY R. BOLLINGER. 

